Device for operating railroad-switches.



PATENTED JNE 30, 17903.

c. AQHENDEL. DEVICE PoR OPERATING RAILROAD SWITCHES-I APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 31, 1903.

THE nonms s co. Pwuroumn.. wAsmNmoN, D. cy

No. 732,552:A v

UNITED V' STATES Patented June 80, .1903;

`PATENT Y OEEICE.

CHARLES A. HENDEL, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR OPERATING RAILROAD-SWITCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,552, dated J' une 30, 1903.

Application filed March 31, 1903.

T0 @ZZ whom t may oon/067%:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. HENDEL, a citizen of the United States of America, 'residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvemcn ts in Devices for Operating Railroad-Switches, of which the following is a speciiication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention' relates to certain new andv useful improvements in devices for operating railroad-switches, and the object of the invention 'is to place the switches of a railroadtrack under full control of the engineer,and also to permit shifting of the switches by the engineer when the train is in motion, and,if necessary, without checking the speed.

The invention is particularly adapted for steam-roads, although it may be employed in connection with the elevated lroads or with electrically-operated street-cars.

Brieiiy described, the invention comprises a throwing rod or bar pivotally supported underneath the engine and provided at its forward end with' a shoe adapted to engage with the spear-shaped head formed on the end of the switchbar, arranged centrally of the track, and connected to the bridle-rod, which throws the movable rail members and the switches. The throwing-bar carried by the engine is extended at its rear end to a point between the tender and the cap and then carried up in position where it may be readily engaged by the engineer. Means is provided for holding the forward end of the throwing-rod normally elevated, wherebyit will not engage with the spear-shaped end of the switch-bar unless desired, and when it is desired to engage the same means is provided for holding the throwing-rod in the desired position whereby to engagev the switch-bar in such a manner as to move the'switch-rails in the desired direction-all of the above construction to be hereinafter more fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims. A v

ln describing the inventionin detail reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and wherein like numerals of reference indicate Serial No. 150,444. (No model.)

like parts throughout theseveral views, in which- Figure 1 is a detail top plan view of my improved devce, showing the same in position on the enginewith the latter in dotted lines and showing the wedge constructed to be operated by the device. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the engine in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the switch-signal, showing the bridlerod connected thereto. Figs. 4, 5, and '6 are detail viewsof the supports carriedby the engine for the throwing-rod.

In orderl to operate the switch-rails in accordance with my invention, I connect to the movable members 1 and 2 of the switchrails the bridle-rod 3, pivoted, as at 4, to the switch-bar 5, the latter provided on its forward end with a spear-shaped head or shoe 6, the'said bar at its other end being pivoted to the cross-brace 7. tended out at one side of the track and connected to a crank S of the switch-signal 9. This switch as so constructed is actuatedby means of the throwing device supported from the engine and embodying a throwing rod or bar 10 l0, provided at its forward end with a triangularshaped shoe 1l, with depends below the lower face. of the throwing-rod, whereby to engage with the head or shoe 6 of the bar 5 when the rod 10 has been moved in proper position for said engine. This rod or bar 10 is pivotally supported on a stirrup or hanger 12, attached to any suitable point on the engine, aboutmidway the length of the boiler thereof, the hanger or stirrup having an outwardly-turned upper end, forming a convenient means for securing the same in position. The throwing-rod extends rearwardly to a point between the tender and cab of a locomotive and is carried upwardly to form the operating-lever 15, the said throwing-rod being suitably supported at its rear end by a keeper 16, forming a support therefor. At its forward end the throwing-lever is supportedby means of a stirrup 17, having rests 18 18 and 19, the two rests 18 being on a plane lower than the rest 19. The throwing-rod is adapted to rest normally on the stirrup 17 in the rest 19, and when it is desired to operate the switch the lever15 is de- The bridle-rod 3 is eX- ICO pressed, and then the throwing-rod is rocked on its pivot so as to move the forward end of the rod into engagement with one of the rests 1S, according to the'direetion in which it is desired to move the switches, the rod heiligheid in the rest 18, in which position it will engage with the desired side face of the head (5 in order to aetuate the desired switch.

It will be noted that various Changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the general spirit of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to seeure by Letters Patent, is-

In Combination with the switch-rails, a

masse bridle-rod connected thereto, and a switchbar pivotally connected to the bridle-rod and provided with a spear-shaped head, a switchthrowing rod pivotally supported from the hanger attached to the locomotive, a keeper for supporting the rear end of said rod, a shoe carried by the forward end of the rod, and a stirrnp for supporting the forward end of said rod, said stirrup having a pluralityoi' rests for holding,l the rod in different positions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. I'IENDEL. Witnesses:

A. M. WILSON, E. E. POTTER. 

